Last week (on 12 April) at our Go Innovation Lab in Gothenburg, Lars Andersson, Gen. Manager Performance Chemicals and Country Director Nordics at AkzoNobel shared with us how AkzoNobel deals with innovation. His key message was: innovation in a large corporation has to be integrated into the business and clearly linked to the strategy of the company. Innovation is not just the responsibility of the R&D department. Another critical success factor for innovation is cooperation with partners: customers, suppliers and academia. AkzoNobel cooperates with several partners and universities for innovation, both in Sweden and international, which has resulted in many innovation projects, new products and processes.

We got some interesting insights and had lively discussions around the theme of innovation at large corporations.

We also thanked and said goodbye to Sari van Poelje, Regional Director Gothenburg of the Dutch Chamber and initiator of the Go Innovation Labs as she moved back to the Netherlands. Olga Deering has been introduced as her successor. Olga will continue the Go Innovation Labs in 2018 together with Annemieke van Wijk and they will further extend the activities of the Dutch Chamber in Gothenburg next year.

The next Go Innovation Lab will be on Thursday 14 June where we will invite Christina Hahn, CEO and founder of Under Your Skin and Hahns House, to talk about how you move from idea to growing company. Please be welcome and join us in Gothenburg!

A company like AkzoNobel really needs an innovation. Please always remember that if we will not embrace innovation, we will surely have a hard time coping up with the changes that are happening in our environment. All corporations and business entities right now are trying to cope up with the recent changes so that they are sure that they are not being left out. AkzoNobel is doing the same thing, as what was said by Mr. Lars Anderson, the General Manager.